It’s About Time…(photo heavy)

So. This time of year—beginning in September– is when life usually gets really wild for me. But this time, (and wonderful as it was) it all felt waaaaay out of control, like I was constantly trying to catch up with myself. Although I was planting roses, caring for roses, growing beautiful, luscious roses…I didn’t always have time to stop and smell the roses—ya know? It seems I have been ricocheting through my life since September—all in a fun way, of course–but I still feel a bit wrung out! Hopefully I can recover a bit this month…maybe.

“Seussical the Musical” was a triumph. The completely sold out shows and the many folks turned away at the door could have warranted another weekend of performances. The kids were up for it, but venue and scheduling would have been impossible. For those of you who are familiar with this Dr. Seuss musical, the cast was electric; our Cat in the Hat was brilliant and funny, Gertrude was one of the most adorable I have ever seen, Horton was sweet and dear, the General hysterical, the Whos quirky and perfect, Mayzies and the Kangaroos powerhouse voices impressive, the Wickersham Brothers and the Jungle Creatures were gymnastic and rowdy. It all came together for us. The costumes were a dream come true challenge for us to build–confections of sheer whimsy, happy accidents and utter imaginative abandon. My team of young designers and fabulous thinkers deserved all the kudos and gasps of delight they got from the audience. Spontaneous applause and roars of appreciation went up for the costume crew after the show–as play-goers filed out of the auditorium to meet the cast and crew. Very, VERY fun and rewarding reactions from all.

The full colorful cast “Oh the thinks you can think when you think about Suess!”

Gertrude, Horton and the Cat–plus the Sour Kangaroo, the baby Kangaroo puppet and the Wickersham Brothers.

A few of the Whos. We had fun with pipecleaners and sculpted their wigs! We made a “Whoodle Skirt” and in place of a poodle on the circle skirt, we made a little cut out of Max the dog from the Grinch. The General Ghengis Von Shmidt had epaulets that extended far beyond his shoulders and sported a crossed knife and fork on his Napoleon-like hat. “We eat our bread BUTTER SIDE UP!”

More fun with pipecleaners for the BirdGirl headpieces. I was very proud of the work we did on these costumes…it will be hard to out-do ourselves on the next few plays in the future, but we’ll try!!

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Immediately following the play was Thanksgiving week. In preparation for my two big arts and craft shows (in our house) in December, Don finished the kitchen floor and the bathroom walls. (Well, there is more finishing to do, but this much got us through!)

Here’s the newest version of the kitchen floor featuring Don’s wild scribble art. I think we still want to add a touch of one more color, but it’s the basic idea.

I frantically made “Itti-Bitties” ornaments and prepped for my first holiday show at a large venue here in town set for the day/weekend after Thanksgiving. We were exhausted on Thanksgiving Day, so Don and I made vague excuses to family in Denver and friends here in town– and instead hid out by the fire in our little house and did nothing but watch movies and hold hands. (It was great!)

I did well at that craft fair—a relief always—but especially this year I had wondered how it would go. Many people I talked to were committed to buying local hand-made items for Christmas this year, so it went better than I had expected. My niece Amy and her fiancé Jeremy were in town, and Don and I got to spend some wonderful one-on-one time with them (which was so appreciated, as we were unable to make it to their wedding…auuugh!)

And there went November. Whoosh!

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The following week I painted. And painted. And PAINTED! The fireplace room had been a pale sage-y seasick green and the color no longer worked with the new kitchen floor…so warm gold it went. The Indonesian puppet gods on the mantle were gifts from friends. (Elvis now presides over the outdoor patio) We will need to do some research on these particular puppets, but apparently they are quite old. It’s believed that these gods protect the house and keep death from stopping by. Or something. We just think they’re cool.

The bathroom is still in progress…need to figure out window treatments of some kind. I painted the walls deep terra cota rust, and did Don’s design detailing in metallic copper paint. I’m playing with a citrus green and magenta as a couple other colors. Maybe a touch of turquoise, maybe not. The counter is papered right over the top of the old laminate in a decoupage kind of way, and I am planning on doing a paper mosaic pattern of some kind. We painted it black, because that color will ultimately be the “grout” in the mosaic. Once that’s done, we will cover the counter surface with a resin or marine varnish. The walls once had a pale blue tile all over them, which we recently pulled off. The walls needed to be replastered, and Don decided to have fun and draw a border around the room and archways in the wet plaster. I love his designs.

(We are shameless, aren’t we? It’s so fun to NOT have a grown-up house. We are certainly not decorating for re-sale!)

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And then, in the middle of the house-mess and clay production, I helped take our Thespian students to the state competions in Denver. 22 kids this year, all competing in monologues, musical theatre, college auditions, and tech theatre. The theatre teachers were halfway hoping that no one would win this year, so that we could take students on a trip to New York instead of Internationals this summer. BUT. Four of our students’ performances were ranked “Superior” by the judges, so now we will be going on to the Internationals again after all. I’m not complaining!

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The following week I cleaned. And cleaned. And CLEANED! On Thursday I had 10 different artists set up displays in areas of our little house for my “Artsy Stuff” craft show, and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday the crowds came through to shop. I talked Don into selling some of the whimsical pet portraits he’s been doing on his favorite paint program. He’s done this for a few friends…they email him a photo of their pet and Don does his own style of abstract portrait. Fun!

The following week, I got sick. Don was sick first and even though I wouldn’t let him kiss me, I caught the nasty, long-lasting, bronchial bug. It was only a matter of time, I guess. I could only slow down a little as I still had to work on special “Itti-Bitties” orders and begin my Christmas coughing shopping. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we hosted the second weekend of “Arsty Stuff”. More crowds and lots of fun.

By Monday, Trevor and Charlie were home. Tuesday, after 48 hours stranded in airports and grounded flights, Ian (who was in great spirits after his adventure…ah youth!) finally made it home from Seattle. We were gloriously happy with all our boys home,

Christmas was warm and wonderful, despite both Don and I being miserably sick.

Ian and Trevor got twin tattoos (that I ruefully drew for them). They chose wheelbarrows—from a sweet shared memory involving a ride in a leaf-filled wheelbarrow from their baby days.

The twins had to leave the following Tuesday to get back to jobs…sigh. And finally, still sick at week three, (suspecting pneumonia/bronchitis) I threw in the towel and called the Dr. (Just say yo to drugs baby.)

And there went December!

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January is a bit more calm, and Don and I are healthy at last. Charlie left yesterday and the house is too quiet, and yet we enjoy each others company–so it’s all good. (Although we’re not too sure Chloe thinks so…she misses her boys.)

Next on my plate is “Romeo and Juliet” which is the spring play, (in February! Auuuggghh!) and getting back to my watercolors. But that’s another story for another time….

Much love and good wishes to all you dears and dahlinks!

:)xoAdagio